Mitt Romney has now extended his lead to six points in North Carolina following this week's second presidential debate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Tar Heel State, taken last night, finds Romney with 52% support to President Obama’s 46%. One percent (1%) is still undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

A week ago, Romney held a three-point advantage, 51% to 48%, over the president. North Carolina now moves from a Toss-Up to Leans Romney in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections. In 2008, Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry North Carolina in over 30 years.

Still, by a 52% to 39% margin, voters in North Carolina think Obama is more likely to win the presidential election. Fifty percent (50%) say the president has a better understanding of the middle class than his Republican opponent, while 42% think Romney is more in sync with the middle class.

Ninety-five percent (95%) of voters in the state are certain they will vote. Among these voters, Romney leads 52% to 46%.

Among the 90% who have already made up their minds how they will vote, it's Romney 53%, Obama 47%.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters in North Carolina trust Romney more than Obama by 14 points when it comes to the economy and by a five-point margin in the area of national security. Voters nationally trust Romney more by seven points on the economy, while the two run nearly even when it comes to national security.

North Carolina voters are more evenly divided when asked which candidate they would rather get advice from to help them make the toughest decision of their lives: 48% say Romney; 46% say Obama.

Two-out-of-three (66%) voters in the state are excited about the choice between Obama and Romney. Twenty-six percent (26%) will simply be voting for the lesser of two evils. North Carolina voters are slightly more enthusiastic about the choices this election compared to voters nationwide.

Romney has the support of 94% of North Carolina Republicans and 17% of the state's Democrats. Obama earns the backing of 82% of the voters in his own party. The GOP candidate leads 59% to 36% among voters not affiliated with either of the major parties.

Forty-one percent (41%) in North Carolina rate their own personal finances as good or excellent, while 14% give their finances a poor rating. Thirty percent (30%) think their finances are getting better these days, but 41% say they’re getting worse.

Obama draws strong support from those who give their finances positive marks, while Romney is heavily favored among those in the state who think their finances are in poor shape.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of all voters in North Carolina share at least a somewhat favorable impression of Romney, while 44% view him unfavorably. These figures include Very Favorables of 37% and Very Unfavorables of 32%.

Forty-eight percent (48%) now approve of the job the president is doing, but 52% disapprove. This includes Strong Approval from 34% and Strong Disapproval from 47%.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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